With the Stanley Cup Finals underway and a potential for four new Russians to be immortalized, we here at FRWG decided to take a look back to see how the comrades of yesteryear ranked amongst one another. Criteria included a minimum of 500 NHL games, at least one cup, stats of the non fancy variety, and a whole lot of eternal struggle.

Note this list is not set in stone and a will likely look very different following the conclusion of the careers of today’s Russian stars.

One year ago, From Russia with Glove was created and since then we have reached over 7,000 computer screens, gained hundreds of followers on twitter as well as on facebook. A big thanks to our fans because without you we would be nothing. Here’s hoping to bigger and better things by next year! In the words of Alex Oveckin’s catch phrase for NHL 2k10 “It’s party now!”

Earlier today Alexander Ovechkin visited the NHL store in New York City and I had the pleasure being right in the thick of things. Ovechkin arrived in grand fashion as he drove a zamboni for a block which featured the cover of NHL2K10 on which he appears on.

Ovechkin then signed autographs for those lucky enough to snag a pre-order of the game which hits shelves next week. While I was able to obtain the signature and a picture I also had the greatest 15 second conversation with the man who like myself comes from Moscow.

Here is a brief translation of the conversation.
Me: What’s up?
Ovie: Not much, how you? (Ovechkin clearly has no time for formal greetings)
Me: Fine, happy birthday next week(sounds way better in Russian)
Him:Thanks

What a great encounter with a great player. After the autographs Ovechkin took on a winner from last week in a head-to-head game of NHL 2K10 in which he lost. He played with various other people as well before doing an interview with the NHL on XM radio. Here is the autographed certificate and video of Ovie arriving.

There was no “miracle” for the USA as they lost to Russia for the second time in the 2009 World Championships 3-2. Goals from Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexander Frolov, and Konstantin Gorovikov helped the Russian team overcome two deficits to make their second straight appearance in the gold medal game.

They will meet Canada, a team they defeated last year to clinch their first gold since 1993. Canada beat Sweden 3-1 to set up the rematch of the two best teams statistically. The final will be played at 2 pm on Sunday while Sweden entertains the US earlier in the day.

You may recall a post about Alexander Ovechkin meeting up with the NBA’s LeBron James after a Washington Wizards game. During the exchange between the two youngest and brightest stars in their respective sports Ovechkin gave James a autographed Caps jersey making the King embarrassed he had nothing in return.

James would promise to send something Ovie’s way and on the day before the Caps open up their second round series against Pittsburgh that something was delivered. Brought in by Caps owner Ted Leonsis (who arranged the original meeting) was an autographed blue No. 23 Cleveland Cavaliers jersey, signed by James. With it came an inscription reading “To Alexander the Great: Keep up the good work. King James.”